As Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted people, we have a special responsibility to care for all God’s Creation and hurting communities, especially in the conversation around how to recover from COVID-19. This responsibility requires us to take action in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in our nation and around the world who are simultaneously affected adversely by climate change and most severely impacted by the pandemic.
Br. Michael Specht, OFM, explains how Franciscans are intimately called to take radical steps to care for creation. That’s why we will join our friends at GreenFaith in participating in Sacred People, Sacred Earth global day of action, and we want you to join us.
Sacred People, Sacred Earth is billed as the biggest ever multi-faith climate day of action. On March 11, 2021 diverse, grassroots people of faith and conscience will come together to demand real climate solutions and to lead by example.
FAN staff will be joining in this global day of action on social media and we invite you to join us!
Join FAN and thousands of faithful people around the world for the day of action on March 11, 2021. Here’s what you can do:
Use prayer to start: The world’s religious and spiritual traditions offer a rich variety of prayers, rituals, and forms of worship that help people express awe and wonder for the natural world. These practices represent an opportunity to offer thanks for Earth’s generosity, to lament human mistreatment of the environment, and to make a commitment to respect and protect nature. GreenFaith offers these resources for diverse faith communities.
Take a picture or video explaining how your faith motivates you to take action. Or, highlight one of the 10 demands that is most relevant to your community. Include your location, name of your religious community, and your demand. (See examples below)
Post it on social media and be sure to include the following:
- Hashtags #SacredPeopleSacredEarth #Faiths4Climate and #Franciscans4Climate.
- Tag the person/institution that has the power to effect change on your issue (ex. mayor, president, bank, etc.).
- Tag FAN on social media using “@franciscannet” on Twitter and Instagram and “Franciscan Action Network” on Facebook.
Also, please consider signing the grassroots global statement and forward it to 5 friends asking them to do the same.
Click here to find an event in your local area or if you are interested in organizing your own event, find useful planning information here.
This guide “Making an Impact Close to Home” offers creative ways to get involved without leaving your home.
We look forward to joining you on March 11th as we join Franciscans and others all over the world in sounding the alarm for the environmental crisis. A far better future is possible if our collective response to the pandemic and the climate crisis is guided by compassion, love, and justice at a scale that meets this moment.